help me feel more confident around visitors

[catty]

I no this seems like such a small tiny problem but its worrying me a little. my baby was born on the 9th of july so this is only his third day and we got home from hospital yesterday.

To start with he was in neonatal as he had breathing issues from morphine so didnt feed at all for about 18 hours. The next 2 days feeds got better and better but i had to wake him up every 3 - 4 hours or he would just have slept through so when i had visitors there was no pressure.

Anyway last night i think his feeds became 'normal' he woke up looking for feeds and did very well but sometimes woke every hour.

So i should get to the point im getting paranoid of visitors coming round and him needing fed when there round. i have no confidence in feeding infront of people i no except my boyfriend and a little devil in my head keeps saying just use formula itl be easier.
i dont want to give up over such a silly little thing as visitors so please help me with tips. did you just tell them you have to feed and leave the room or what? I cant do it infront of them but maybe as i get more confident i can?

Sorry for this post just dont no what to think

 

[Starburst2]

Hi catty, I know how you feel. My ds is 6weeks old and the first few weeks when he wanted feeding and I had visitors I'd hide in my bedroom and feed due to being embarrassed. I put off a lot of visitors coming until after the first few weeks apart from really close family and friends not just for this reason but because it is a special time to bond with your child and u don't want to be playing host all the time. It does get easier I now express once a day and often use this for when visitors come or I go out. Congratulations on your lo and enjoy every second.

 

[MrsCeder]

I had my baby girl 5 weeks ago & fed her in another room when guests came over. Now I use my breastfeeding apron so I can stay in the same room. It is a complete life saver, being able to feed her without showing any skin. I even used it for the first time whilst out for lunch, felt very empowered This is the cover I bought https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Baby...ding_Breast_Pads_Pumps_LE&hash=item257fe0a6d9

Good luck and confidence will come with practice. X

 

[catty]

Hi, thank you glad im not the only one thats a little worried. if i know when people are coming i can kind of fit feeds around them but some people come a little late/early and knocks me off guard.

So far i have just had immediate family and close friends but still have had quite alot of visitors. i think with time will come confidence.

I think i will buy one of them covers!! My only issue it does take me a while for him to latch and stay kn so maybe if leave the room for that bit then go back when im all set up.

 

[Janers]

I was the same when my LO was new at breastfeeding, don't feel bad if you are more uncomfortable going to another room to feed your baby. When I was starting out I would sneak away from visitors and feed my baby in a quiet dimly lit room, I found the break from company relaxing, and I didn't feel like I was under any pressure to get her latch quickly or perfectly in front of others.

For me, one day things changed! I used a breastfeeding cover a couple times, but quickly we get our latch down and I was breastfeeding in public and people didn't even know! It was very exciting!

 

[BabyB2]

My baby feeds for such long sessions that I never really felt that leaving the room was an option for me, and I was keen to be able to feed him in public and not have the worry of finding somewhere private to feed so I decided to bite the bullet and just go for it, and it wasn't as embarrassing as I had anticipated! You could first try feeding at a breast feeding clinic or baby cafe if there is one near you? That way you'll be with other ladies who are also breast feeding, so you're all in the same situation and you can get valuable help and support too! Practice feeding your baby in front of a mirror too. That will allow you to perfect the art of latching baby discreetly and you'll probably also see that actually visitors are not able see much at all! Baby's head will cover most of it. This may give you a little more confidence! Treat yourself to a couple of good breastfeeding tops or a breastvest too. Good luck! x

 

[catty]

I have had 3 sets of visitors today and twice he needed to feed. it was nowhere near as bad as i thought i just said id be back after id fed they chatted away.

Feel so much better now and feel like its not taken a weight off my shoulders!!

I would like to be able to go out in public and be able to feed wherever i have to, i think it will take me a bit of time but im feelig so much better about breastfeeding now

 

[AC1987]

I'm one of those shy people who can't feed infront of anyone, however to get around it I'd just say I need to feed LO and take her off of someone if they were holding her, or just say I needed to change her diaper and then feed her at the same time.

 

[cautious...]

I used to be exactly the same and hated feeding around visitors. Now I feed pretty much anywhere and can do it discreetly without a scarf or anything (I wear two tops and pull one up and one down) . I even bf walking along in my sling yesterday! Confidence definitely comes with time. If I ever feel nervous I just remind myself how proud I am to be feeding my baby. Good luck xx

 

[Nervous_1]

I second the two tops, one to pull up and one to pull down, it really helps! I bought gypsy style tops to wear over a vest top and my lil one didn't mind hiding underneath the gypsy top when feeding so I never even had to lift it up that much at all which meant I never bothered with a feeding cover or apron or even having to take a blanket to cover us when out and about.

 

[Kellya009]

If I needed to feed I would go into my bedroom while I had visitors at home. Now I can use my cover but I still find it difficult. But I realized I have to build my confidence with practice because I can't just stay at home and feed all day! My baby is 3 weeks old and I just started getting good at using the cover thus past week though. Take it slow in the beginning. Also I wouldn't feel uncomfortable feeding around other moms. They've been there before!

 

[babyface15]

i try to feed in front of whoever with the two tank top system. i do feel a little awkward the first time a new male visitor is there while I'm feeding her. yesterday she was pulling off and on a lot and i was feeling uncomfortable so i just said i needed to take her upstairs to a quiet room because she's having trouble latching. Your visitors will understand if your baby needs peace and quiet while nursing. You can even say it was recommended to you by your drs/nurses if you'd like

but once your lo is a bit older and she has her latch figured out, you may feel more confident feeding with visitors around!